Spring-post for bicycle seats or handle-bars.



Patented` May 6. |902.

No. 699,40D.

G. S. LEWIS.

SPRING POST FR BICYCLE SEATS 0H HANDLE BARS.

(Application led Dec. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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GEORGE S. LEWIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPRING-POST FORBICYCLE. SEATS OR HANDLE-BARS.

SPECIFIC ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,400, dated May 6,1902. Application filed December 9,1901. Serial No.85,l80. (No model.)

T0 all. whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE S. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cool; and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Posts for BicycleSeats or Handle-Bars, ot' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to spring seat-posts for bicycles,although equally well adapted to spring-posts for handle-bars. As nowconstructed the two principal forms ot these devices are known as plainspring seat-posts and spring seat-posts with internal expanders. Owingto its construction, the plain springseat-post usually requires anoutside expander separate and distinct from the post itself to fastenthe same to the bicycle or the opening therefor in the bicycle ormotorcycle adapted to receive the post must be made in some form of openring to be closed by a seatpost bolt, which ring may be a part of thebicycle or motorcycle itself. Spring seat-posts with internal expandersas now constructed are objectionable on account of multiplicity ofparts, excessive length, special wrench 0r tool required for adjustment,the necessity for taking apart while adjusting to the bicycle, and theextra cost of manufacture, owing to the construction and number ofparts.

At the present time bicycles and motorcycles are almost universally madewith what is known as a solid cluster at the seat-post, whichpractically necessitates the use of some form of internal expander tofasten the post.

The object of myinvention is therefore the construction of a spring-postprovided with an internal expander which will be c0mparatively free fromthe objections and disadvantages to which present forms ofspring-postswith internal expander are subject.

In a general way my invention consists in a spring-post having aninternal expanderplug and provided with a coupling-rod to limit thedistance of longitudinal expansion of said post, which rod serves alsoto control the movement of said expander-plug and is provided with meansfor increasing or diminishing its own length as a coupler to vary theresiliency of the spring; and my invention further consists in thevarious details of construction and in combinations of parts, all ashereinafterdescribed7 and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying draw ings, forming a part of the specification, and.

in which- Figure l is a vertical central longitudinal section of acomplete device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan ot thesame. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section substantially on the line x ofFig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are details subsequently described.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 2 refers to a tube ofproper gage for insertion in the seat-post mast provided with the slots3 3 at the lower extremity thereof, to permit of the expansion of thetube at this end by means of the expander-plug 4 to grip said seat-postmast. Telescoping Within said tube 2 is the tube 5, which forms a partof the seat-post proper,preferably of the usual L con* struction.Extendinglongitudinally through the telescoping tubes 2 and 5 is thebolt-rod 6, having a permanent head 7 and threaded at its lowerextremity to receive the nut 8. This bolt-rod 6 is preferably circularincrosssection throughout the greater portion of its length, the portion9, however, being rectan gular in cross-section for reasons which willsubsequently appear. The lower extremity of the tube 5 is provided withlongitudinallyextending slots 10 10, designed, in connection with thelugs 11 11 on the interior of the tube 2, to prevent rotation of thetubes 2 and 5 with reference to each other.

Threaded longitudinally through the expander-plug 4 is the screw 12,having a head 13 slightly less in dia-meter than the inside diameter ofthe tube 2. Said head 13 is provided with the notches 14 14 to permit ofthe withdrawal of said screw past the lugs 11 l1.

' Said screw 12 is further provided with a central bore extendinglongitudinally through the same, at least a part of which is rectangularin cross-section, designed to fit the rectangular portion 9 of saidbolt-rod 6 to eect the joint rotation of both screw and bolt-rod. Aflange 15, suitably mounted on the interior wall of the tube 2,inconnection with the head 13 above and the Washer 16 and the nut 17below,prevents vertical movement of said screw 12 within said tube. Saidscrew 12 being pro- IOO vided with one or more flattened sides and thewasher 16 being flat-faced to conformthereto, said Washer and nut willrotate with said screw, retaining the same relative position. Said nut17 is preferably operable by means of a U-shaped wire wrench and theholes 18 18, oppositely located in said nut 17.

Surrounding the bolt-rod 6 within the telescoping tubes is the spring19, compressed between the head of the tube 5 and the screwhead 13. Thisspring provides the resiliency of said post and may be of usual pattern,size, and strength, its function being too well known to require furtherdescription. The bolt-rod 6 limits the combined length of saidtelescoping tubes, holding them under action of said spring. It isevident that by means of the nut 8 and the threaded extremity 21 thelength of said post, and consequently the compression of said spring,may be increased or diminished. A plurality of washers 2O 20 may beprovided at the lower extremity of said bolt-rod 6 to bring the nut 8within easy access. In assembling the parts which make up my completedevice the washer 16 and the nut 17 are of course properly placed priorto the insertion of the expander-plug 4.

It will be apparent that the bolt-rod 6 is adapted to serve threeseparate and distinct functions. In the rst placeit acts as a couplerbetween the two telescoping tubes,thereby limiting'the extent oflongitudinal expansion of said post; secondly, rotation of said bolt-rod6 will rotate said screw and operate to move the expander-plug 4 up ordown, thereby tightening or loosening the seat-post in the seat-postmast; thirdly, by means of the threaded extremity 21 and the nut 8 thecompression of said spring may be changed to give greater or lessresiliency to said post, as may be desired. It is obvious, furthermore,that. while I have largely confined my description to a spring seat-postmy invention is equally Well-adapted to be used as a springpost forhandle-bars.

Many modifications of the details of my improved spring-post may alsosuggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains,and I therefore do not desire to limit my invention to the specificconstruction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a spring-post for bicycles, the combinationwith alongitudinally-resilient,tubular post, of a coupling-rod limitingthe longitudinal expansion of said post, an internal expander-plug, ascrew threaded therein to raise and lower said plug, means for operatingsaid screw by rotation of said coupling-rod, and means for limiting themovement of said screw to that of rotation only.

2. In a spring-post for bicycles, the combination with alongitudinally-resilient,tubular post, of a coupling-rod therein tolimit the distance of longitudinal expansion, an expander-plug, a screwthreaded therein to raise and lower said plug, external means forrotating said rod, connecting means between said rod and screw to rotatesaid screw, and means for limiting the movement of said screw to that ofrotation only.

In a spring-post for bicycles, the combination withalongitudinally-resilient,tubular post, of a coupling-rod limiting thelongitudinal expansion of Vsaid post, an expanderplug, a screw threadedtherein to operate said plug, external means for rotating saidcoupling-rod, connecting means between said rod and screw to rotate saidscrew, means for limiting the movement of said screw to that of rotationonly, and means for varying the resiliency of said spring.

4. In a spring-post for bicycles, the combinationwithalongitudinally-resilient,tubular post, of a coupling-rod limitingthe longitudinal expansion of said post, a screw-controlled,expander-plug operable by rotation of said coupling-rod, and connectingmeans between said rod and spring to increase or diminish the distanceof expansion of said post.

5. In a spring-post for bicycles, the combination with alongitudinally-resilient,tubular post, of a screw-controlled,internalexpanderplug, a coupling-rod limiting the longitudinal expansion of saidpost, connecting means between said screw and rod to operate said screwby rotation of said rod, and means for varying the length of saidcoupler to increase or diminish the resiliency of said spring.

6. In a spring-post for bicycles, the combination with alongitudinally-resilient,tubular post, of a coupling-rod limiting thelongitudinal expansion of said post, an expanderplug, a screw threadedtherein to operate said plug, external means for rotating saidcoupling-rod, connecting means between said rod and screw to rotate saidscrew, means for limiting the movement of said screw to that of rotationonly, and means for varying the length of said coupler to increase ordiminish the resiliency of said spring.

7. In a spring-post for bicycles, the combination with alongitudinally-resilient,tubular post of internal expander-plug, meansfor preventing rotation of said plug, a screw threaded therein to raiseand lower said plug, means for limiting the movement of said screw tothat of rotation only, a coupling-rod limiting the longitudinalexpansion of said post, said .rod being freely slidable longitudinallythrough said screw and rotatable to operate said screw, and means forvarying the length of said coupling-rod.

In testimony of the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, this 3d dayof December, 1901, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE S. LE WIS.

XVitnesses:

MYRON E. VANOE, JAMES L. MEAD.

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